At The End Of This Year, Minister Of Health, Budi, Hopes That Indonesia Will Accept Molnupiravir For COVID-19 Patients

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikan (Photo: Setkab.go.id)

JAKARTA - Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, hopes that Indonesia can immediately receive the antiparasitic drug from Merck, Molnupiravir by the end of this year and can be given to COVID-19 patients immediately.

"Molnupiravir is expected to arrive in Indonesia by the end of this year and we will hopefully be ready to use it next year", Budi said in a press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Monday, November 15.

Although he hopes that there will be no increase in COVID-19 cases after Christmas and New Year's Day, Budi said, this drug is expected to be available and ready for use.

Of course, the use of Molnupiravir awaits emergency use of authorization (UAE) issued by the United States Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in December.

"Hopefully there will be no turmoil, but even if there is, we are ready for the drugs", said the former Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises.

Apart from Molnupiravir, other drugs as an alternative therapy for COVID-19 patients will also be studied. The Ministry of Health, continued Budi, will later cooperate with the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).

"We continue to study other alternative drugs. Even if it is the same as Molnupiravir, it can reduce the risk of being hospitalized. We continue to work with BPOM to study drugs", concluded Budi.